CHARGER DIAMOND CLASSIC: Pitching troubles hurt Chargers against North Raleigh Christian

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on April 1, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

Throw ground balls. Grind down.

Those two tenets, both dugout staples at Wayne Country Day School, were missing in action Thursday during a perplexing, at times painful to watch, 14-3 mercy-rule loss to North Raleigh Christian.

The contest, whose start was briefly interrupted by inclement weather, brought day one of the ninth annual Charger Diamond Classic to a close.

From the outset, it was an uphill climb for WCDS.

Starting pitcher Amane Godo struggled early, giving up a lead-off walk and a base hit past the out-stretched glove of first baseman Jonathon Bryan. He then left a fastball up in the zone, which junior Jonathan Tilley rode to left field for an RBI double.

In a blink, the Knights led 3-0.

The Chargers responded, however, getting an opposite-field home run in the bottom half from junior Mitch Turnage. The blast was part of an eventful afternoon for the all-purpose performer, who went 2-for-3 and also made a late-inning appearance on the hill.

It was part of a staff outing, however, the Chargers must forget.

University of South Carolina-Upstate signee Drake Harris took a Patrick Hall offering over the porch in right field to begin the third inning. The two-run line drive, part of a 3-for-3, three-RBI afternoon for the senior, signaled an early death knell for the Chargers.

"Pitchers did not do their jobs today," WCDS skipper Michael Taylor said, "(and) they all had good bullpen sessions this week. Today just wasn't a good day on the mound."

To say the very least.

Wayne Country Day's staff, intent on pitching around the middle portion of a powerful Knights' lineup, simply lacked enough control to execute the plan. On the day, the Chargers issued 12 free bases -- most of which quickly led to North Raleigh's run total.

The ball game crested in the fifth inning, when the Knights scored six runs on just two hits -- salting the wounds of a pitching staff that sent half a dozen arms to the hill on the afternoon.

Despite the setback, a sense of optimism remained.

"That's what I like about baseball. It gives us the opportunity to strap it on again," Taylor said. "And we have two games tomorrow we can win."

Wayne Country Day (5-4-1 overall) must regroup quickly. The Chargers play country rival Wayne Christian today, weather permitting. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.